Johnson City, TN Local Data & Statistics

State: TN

Total population: 72,222 Household income: $57,254 Rent: $1,023

Overview

Total population

72,222

Rent

$1,023

Year built

1983

Household income

$57,254

Per capita income

$36,833

Poverty rate

20.3%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Tennessee

Total population

72,222

Adults over 25

47,309

Total households

30,662

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$57,254

Per capita income

$36,833

Poverty rate

20.3%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Rent over 30% of income

46.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,023

Year built

1983

Households that rent

48.7%

Households that own

51.3%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

83.1%

Black

5.9%

Asian

2.1%

Two or more races

6.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.5%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

12.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

26.3%

High school graduate or GED

22.3%

Some college or associate degree

8.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

42.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Johnson City, TN with: Tennessee United States

Johnson City, TN

Total population72,222

Rent$1,023

Year built1983

Household income$57,254

Per capita income$36,833

Poverty rate20.3%

Unemployment rate3.3%

Tennessee State

Total population7,066,383

Rent$1,189

Year built1987

Household income$69,595

Per capita income$39,437

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityJohnson City, TN	StateTennessee	CountryUnited States
Total population	72,222	7,066,383	334,922,499
Rent	$1,023	$1,189	$1,413
Year built	1983	1987	1980
Household income	$57,254	$69,595	$80,734
Per capita income	$36,833	$39,437	$44,673
Poverty rate	20.3%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Johnson City, TN, Tennessee and United States →

Summary for Johnson City, TN

Johnson City is located in Tennessee.

Rent & Income

In Johnson City, the typical monthly rent is $1,023 and the typical household income is $57,254. Rent here is lower than in both Tennessee and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 20.3%, which is higher than in both Tennessee and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 48.7% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 46.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 42.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is similar to Tennessee and lower than the national rate.

Johnson City, TN — Rent vs Household Income

Johnson City, TN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Johnson City, TN compares in Tennessee (14 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,023	2 / 14	from lower rent	$907 – $1,923
Household income	$57,254	10 / 14	from higher income	$51,736 – $138,598
Poverty rate	20.3%	11 / 14	from lower poverty	3.2% – 23.1%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	8 / 14	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Tennessee with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Johnson City, TN

Rent

Rent prices put Johnson City in 2nd place among 14 large communities in Tennessee. Across Tennessee, rents range from $907 in Kingsport, TN up to $1,923 in Franklin, TN.

Household income

Johnson City ranks 10th among 14 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $51,736 in Memphis, TN to $138,598 in Collierville, TN.

Poverty rate

Johnson City places 11th out of 14 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 3.2% in Collierville, TN up to 23.1% in Memphis, TN.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Johnson City ranks 8th out of 14 large places. Across Tennessee, unemployment ranges from 2.5% in Spring Hill, TN to 5% in Memphis, TN.

💰 Rent in Johnson City, TN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,023 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Johnson City, TN

Annual Household Income: $57,254

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Johnson City, TN

Estimated Rate: 20.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Johnson City, TN

In Johnson City, TN, households that rent: 14,931 (48.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	14,931	48.7%
Owner-Occupied	15,731	51.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Johnson City, TN

In Johnson City, TN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 6,976 (46.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	6,976	46.7%
Other renter households	7,955	53.3%
Total renter households	14,931	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Johnson City, TN

Less than High School: 12,436 people (26.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 10,556 people (22.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,214 people (8.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 20,103 people (42.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 47,309

📊 Unemployment Rate in Johnson City, TN

Estimated Rate: 3.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Rocklin, CA72,340 Turlock, CA72,400 Framingham, MA72,013 Lakeville, MN72,480 Noblesville, IN71,940 Mount Vernon, NY72,528 Gulfport, MS72,533 Tamarac, FL71,887 Greenville, SC71,755 Harlingen, TX71,669

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.